St. Landry democrat., 1887-04-30

was to be the victim.'
Far from it.' replies her cousin cool1y
You were to be the victim. | had no
} intention whatsoever of marrying you.
} had have-eyery intention of marrying
Miss Roche"
| Nadine starts violently.
Quick to see and judge, he notices her
emotion, and turns to her
Il have your PROMISE" he goes on in a
low tone full of meaning: then again let's
his glance fall upon Sir Thomas.
''WeL, how is it to be2' he asked reck-
lessly ION which count am to be first
arraigned? The diamonds? Is my mother
to be the first to cast a stone? 1t is only
just! Senores priores'
Lady Valworth lifts her head from her
arms and looks at him. Those who see
her face never afterward forget how it
was then. The agony, the despair, the
deadly cold Of it, all burn themselves into
the memory!
ooh, Grant! Grant! Granit!'
The mOurnful cry rises and rings
through the room. 1t is Il cry from a
broken heart!
Silence follows on it.
The gray head has again fallen forward
upon the outstretched arms.
If the son is moved by this evidence of
the cruelty of his mothers grief he gives
no sign of it. With a face marble indeed,
and quite colorless, and thereIG"a impas-
sive, he waits to receive an answer to his
question from Sir Thomas.
His stepfather, now utterly urnerved,
motions to him to leave the room.
Prosecution is impossible" he says
hurriedly. ''All that is left you is to quit
this house and this country with as little
| delay as possible. This is the only kind
ness you can show-her.n
He points to the motionless figure of his
wife.
"a kindness that will cost ME little"
replies the young man with callous
smile. Already my plans are arranged
to leave England for a foreign soil
never, hope, to return to it. On the
twenty fourth Nadine and | sail for
Canada.
Nadine recoils from him.
"You must be mad" she says. ''Why
do you now link your name with mine?'
''It is premature certainly. But on the
twenty-third it will be linked with mine
forever!''
"Oh, non'
''This little affair has affrighted you:''
says Boyle, with dark glance. In
distant land, under different circum-
stances, you will readily forget it''
"Forget this night?'
"And all, and every one belonging to
It,"
"You hope too much.''
''This hope is my lifel 1t shall not be
too much! You shrink now; your
woman's heart fails you; but in the time
to come there will be no room for regret
Joy shall fill your days. Come, take cour-
age"
mot for such cause as this
"a truce to follyr' cries he, with flash
Of passion. II tell you you are mine, and
shall follow me where / go. Have you
forgotten your oath, your promises''
'That promise was given to Paul An
nerley," returns she firmly.
''That promise was given to me! To |
me--do you hear? whether my name be |
Grant, Boyle, or Paul Annerley, or-the
devil! Gomez Going nearer to her. he
grasps her hand, II cannot speak to you
with all these gaping fools around; come
to some other room"
He drags her toward the door, not
brutally, but with determination. Duran,
going quickly up, by a sudden sharp
wrench delivers her from him. He would
perhaps have done more, but that Madness
sgonized glance of entreaty restrains him.
This glance fortunately Boyle fails to see.
"Who are you to dare to interfere?" he
cries savagely, glancing at Duran.
"Keep back! This matter is between
me and Miss Roche
His gaze returns to Nadine, and again
it rests upon her, his crime, his ruin, his
coming exile
''Nadine!'' he says, and his voice has
grown wonderfully soft.
''Think, my beloved! Would you cast
me off now? now, when the world has cast
me off? See! / would not plead to you,
would not throw myself so altogether
on your mercy-even though that mercy
means the saving of my soul-but that
know no other man is dearer to you than
[. Your own lips have told me this.
Your voice, as you gave me the blessed
still rings in my ears!'
Duran, who has been standing near her,
with his eyes upon the ground, lifts them
slowly now and fixes them upon Nadine.
He has grown very pale.
Nadine is standing with white lips and
raised head, her glance riveted upon
Boyle, as though fascinated.
sThat / have not gained your entire
heart / know" continues Grant,, in the
same low but impassioned tone. "But 7
am satisfied with the knowledge that no
other has gained it, Comel what is there
10 wait for in this land? Your heart, If
not quite mine, is still your own. II you
follow me it is to gain slave who will
,all your ightest wish a dear command.
Comet"
Again he takes her hand. Softly this
;ime-with gentlest care; and the girl, as
.hough in dream, suffers herself to be
ed toward the door. A step or two she 1
goes, then stops confusedly, and raising
,ne little pink palm presses it convulsive-
y to her brow.
sYou hesitate. my love! But why, :;